Eby says 'nothing's off the table' in responding to Trump's tariff threats

From the merry-looking set of a movie, where he was making a film-industry-related announcement, Premier David Eby came out firing with B.C.'s potential response to massive tarrifs threatened by Donald Trump.

“Nothing is off the table for British Columbia as part of a unified Canadian front to respond to these unjustified tariffs,” said Eby Thursday.

Eby’s comments where in response to ongoing threats by the U.S. president-elect, who has suggested imposing 25-per-cent tariffs on all Canadian goods if Canada doesn't bolster its border security. The B.C. premier followed his Ontario counterpart Doug Ford's threat Wednesday to cut off his province's power supply to 1.5 million U.S. homes it supplies if Trump doesn’t back down.

“We will go to the full extent – depending how far this goes – we will go to the extent of cutting off their energy,” said Ford.

Eby confirmed he's open to retaliatory tariffs – and also didn't rule out shutting off power exports of electricity or natural gas.

“Nothing is off the table," he said. "I mean it. We will not stop until the Americans fully understand how intertied we are."

The feisty words came the day after Canada's premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met virtually to discuss Canada's response to the tariff threats.

The leaders have attempted to emphasize a unified response following the meeting, yet already there have been cracks. Quebec Premier Francois Legault joked Thursday about Ford's comments.

“By the way, I won’t threaten Donald not to send electricity,” he said, to laughter, at a news conference.

And Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she's against tariffs and cutting off energy.

“I don’t support tariffs on Canadian goods and I don’t support tariffs on U.S. goods because all it does is make life more expensive for everyday Canadians and everday Americans,” said Smith Thursday.

Instead, Smith announced her province would invest $29 million to strengthen its border, including with more sheriffs, police dogs and drones.

“Together with federal law enforcement, we'll ensure that our section of the American (border) is well protected,” she said.

The premiers are set to meet again in Ontario on Sunday through next Tuesday as they scramble to maintain a unified front and react to potentially devastating threats from our most important trade partner.